Ronnie Rivers

Ronnie Rivers's Biography

Ronnie Rivers, born on January 31, 1999, is a renowned American professional football running back, currently signed with the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). Prior to gracing the fields of the NFL, he was part of the roster of the Arizona Cardinals in 2022. Rivers’ journey to the league has been eventful, defined by exceptional performances and records set during his high school and college years.

Raised in Oakley, California, Rivers’ football journey began at Freedom High School. Displaying remarkable talent and earning titles of Bay Valley League Most Valuable Player and East Bay Offensive Player of the Year, among others, he left a legacy in his senior year in 2016, by breaking several school rushing records. His efforts helped his team, the Falcons, achieve an impressive 11-2 record, culminating in a runner-up finish in the CIF-North Coast Section Open Division in the same year.

Following his high school success, Rivers accepted a scholarship to Fresno State where his football prowess furthered flourished. Despite being a first-year freshman in 2017, he delivered notable performances, running for 480 yards and scoring five touchdowns. One remarkable game came in the form of a admirable 27-10 victory over San Jose State where Rivers ran for 105 yards and scored two touchdowns.

As a sophomore at Fresno State, Rivers played in 11 games and scored a team-high 13 touchdowns. He led the Fresno State team in rushing, punt returns and against New Mexico, Rivers reached his career-high with three touchdowns. Rivers also won the title of MVP of the Las Vegas Bowl, setting new personal records in rushing attempts and yards.

In his junior year in 2019, Rivers continued to shine and reaffirmed his place as a key player at Fresno State. He led the team in rushing with 899 yards and 13 touchdowns that year, with notable performances against Colorado State, Hawaii, and Utah State, earning him second-team All-Mountain West Conference honors.

Rivers navigated the uncertain 3-3 season in his senior year, marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, with resilience. Despite the restricted season, he started five of Fresno State’s six games, running for 507 yards with seven touchdowns. Rivers was even named Mountain West Conference Player of the Week for a stellar performance against UNLV, where he achieved 19 carries for 133 yards and three touchdowns.

Taking full advantage of the extra year of eligibility owing to the pandemic, Rivers returned for another season in 2021 as the Bulldog’s captain. He led his team to an upset victory against the then-No. 13 UCLA with a season-best performance of 136 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Rivers finished his college career by setting numerous team records, placing himself within the top echelons of Bulldog history with his outstanding contributions to the team.

Exiting Fresno State with a remarkable record, Rivers embarked on his professional football journey in 2022. Despite not being drafted, the Arizona Cardinals signed him as an undrafted free agent. His time with the Cardinals was brief and Rivers was soon released. Shortly after, Rivers was signed by the Seattle Seahawks, although he was waived off post his performance in the final preseason game.

Despite these setbacks, Rivers found a new opportunity with the Los Angeles Rams who signed him onto their practice squad in September 2022. Rivers received promotion to the teams active roster in November of the same year and made appearances in nine games as a rookie. The following year, he entered the 2023 season as the Rams’ third running back, but a nasty knee sprain placed him on injured reserve. Recovering from his injury in December of the year, he finished the season with commendable statistics; 32 carries for 129 yards and five receptions for 22 yards, setting the stage for further professional accomplishments in his future endeavors in the NFL.